Provocative discussion, robust debate and an honest review of the 2014 cropping season were among the many highlights for farmers at Birchip Cropping Group’s (BCG’s) 2014 Trials Review Day.
Welcoming a capacity crowd to the popular annual event, BCG CEO Chris Sounness challenged farmers to consider the information and trial results presented in light of their goals for their farm businesses.
He said BCG was focused on turning research into more profit on the farm, but growers needed to be clear about what they were trying to achieve.
“Farm land ownership is a capital game, farm management is a cash flow game and farm family life is a time management game,” he said.
“Having lots of capital does not ensure you live the lifestyle your family wants and/or desires.”
While Mr Sounness acknowledged the challenges farmers were confronted with, including fluctuating commodity prices and the vagaries of seasonal conditions, he said agriculture was an industry that offered many rewards.
“Farming is bloody exciting and full of opportunity, and is really about one of the few things that creates wealth,” he said.
“It turns sunlight into money via kilojoules.”
A discussion about the challenges and learnings of the past season was led by BCG board member and Birchip farmer John Ferrier.
Representing the Mallee, Berriwillock grower Neil Luehman described the agonising decision-making process surrounding his response to populations of green peach aphid, which at the time were infecting canola crops with Beet Western Yellow Virus.
“I bought and returned the insecticide about three times, but in the end decided not to spray,” he said.
Wimmera mixed farmer Brett Wheaton, who manages property around the Yanac region described how he was improving his soils by ‘claying’.
Despite a disappointing finish to last season, Mr Wheaton said he felt positive about the eventual outcomes of improvements to his paddocks, and credited the inclusion of a livestock enterprise with the businesses ability to create income.
With the scene set, the day continued with the findings from BCG’s variety, weed control, agronomy and livestock research trials presented and discussed.
A highlight of the day was a robust debate about frost, sowing timing and risk management led by industry stalwart Harm van Rees (Cropfacts) and CSIRO researcher James Hunt.
Discussion about how early to sow crops, the mix of crop maturities within a rotation and frost and heat risk ensured.
While the two agronomic powerhouses failed to agree on every point, the consensus was that most of the time sowing on time pays off and planting crops with a range of flowering windows helps to minimise losses from frost events.
The afternoon saw nutrition topics were covered by the CSIRO’s John Angus and fertiliser spreader specialist Chris Lightfoot.
Gonzalo Mata (also from the CSIRO) and Alison Frischke (BCG) presented findings from livestock trials – early finishing of lambs and grazing cereals and unharvested crops.
Farmers heard how adjustments to lamb feeding regimes could result in getting them to market earlier, however logistics and the individual farming system needed to be carefully considered.
BCG research looking at sowing direction, sprouting and barley harvest time also created interest and plenty of discussion.
An interested crowd waited with baited breath as Department of Economic Development weather specialist Dale Grey delivered the climate news for the approaching season.
The news was neither good nor bad with Mr Grey explaining that while conditions currently looked similar to this time last year, the accuracy with which forecasters predict at this time of year are poor.
“We will know the likelihood of an El Nino with more confidence in May,” he said.
The day concluded with farmers, researchers and industry personnel catching up and sharing plans for the season ahead.
The feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive with one farmer commenting, “after the BCG Trials Review Day it always feels like the season has started … it’s when we switch into gear.”
Results from the BCG 2014 research season have been published and are available to members. To become a BCG member and receive a copy of the 229-page Season Research Results compendium phone BCG on (03) 5492 2787.
